This data set is a digital soil survey and generally is the most
detailed level of soil geographic data developed by the National
Cooperative Soil Survey. The information was prepared by digitizing
maps, by compiling information onto a planimetric correct base
and digitizing, or by revising digitized maps using remotely
sensed and other information.
This data set consists of georeferenced digital map data and
computerized attribute data. The map data are in a soil survey area
extent format and include a detailed, field verified inventory
of soils and miscellaneous areas that normally occur in a repeatable
pattern on the landscape and that can be cartographically shown at
the scale mapped. A special soil features layer (point and line
features) is optional. This layer displays the location of features
too small to delineate at the mapping scale, but they are large
enough and contrasting enough to significantly influence use and
management. The soil map units are linked to attributes in the
National Soil Information System relational database, which gives
the proportionate extent of the component soils and their properties.

Purpose:
SSURGO depicts information about the kinds and distribution of
soils on the landscape. The soil map and data used in the SSURGO
product were prepared by soil scientists as part of the National
Cooperative Soil Survey.

Supplemental_Information:
Digital versions of hydrography, cultural features, and other
associated layers that are not part of the SSURGO data set may be
available from the primary organization listed in the Point of
Contact.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, should be acknowledged as the data source in products
derived from these data.
This data set is not designed for use as a primary regulatory tool
in permitting or citing decisions, but may be used as a reference
source. This is public information and may be interpreted by
organizations, agencies, units of government, or others based on
needs; however, they are responsible for the appropriate
application. Federal, State, or local regulatory bodies are not to
reassign to the Natural Resources Conservation Service any
authority for the decisions that they make. The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will not perform any evaluations of these maps
for purposes related solely to State or local regulatory programs.
Photographic or digital enlargement of these maps to scales greater
than at which they were originally mapped can cause misinterpretation
of the data. If enlarged, maps do not show the small areas of
contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger scale. The
depicted soil boundaries, interpretations, and analysis derived from
them do not eliminate the need for onsite sampling, testing, and
detailed study of specific sites for intensive uses. Thus, these data
and their interpretations are intended for planning purposes only.
Digital data files are periodically updated. Files are dated, and
users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Attribute accuracy is tested by manual
comparison of the source with hard copy plots and/or symbolized
display of the map data on an interactive computer graphic system.
Selected attributes that cannot be visually verified on plots or
on screen are interactively queried and verified on screen. In
addition, the attributes are tested against a master set of valid
attributes. All attribute data conform to the attribute codes in
the signed classification and correlation document and amendment(s).

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Certain node/geometry and topology GT- polygon/chain relationships
are collected or generated to satisfy topological requirements
(the GT-polygon corresponds to the soil delineation). Some of these
requirements include: chains must begin and end at nodes, chains
must connect to each other at nodes, chains do not extend through
nodes, left and right GT-polygons are defined for each chain
element and are consistent throughout, and the chains representing
the limits of the file are free of gaps. The tests of logical
consistency are performed using vendor software. All internal
polygons are tested for closure with vendor software and are checked
on hard copy plots. All data are checked for common soil lines (i.e.,
adjacent polygons with the same label). Edge locations generally do
not deviate from centerline to centerline by more than 0.01 inch.
The Soil Survey of (NY664) Niagara County Area, New York is edge
matched to the adjacent SSURGO certified soil surveys:
NY029 Erie County, New York
NY037 Genesee County, New York
NY073 Orleans County, New York
Most feature edges (polygon and line segments) match adjacent ones
in the edge matched survey areas, however, most feature labels don't
match the adjacent feature labels in edge matched surveys.
Descriptive attributes (tabular information about the polygons and
line segments) were developed specifically for each survey area.
Although most don't match exactly, the descriptive attributes of most
polygon and line segments in this survey are nearly the same as adjacent
ones in edge matched soil surveys.
The soil survey area boundaries match.

Completeness_Report:

agement are the same
or very similar for common uses. Generally they are grouped together
because some common feature, such as steepness, stoniness, or
flooding, determines their use and management. If two or more
additional map units would serve no useful purpose, they may be
included in the same unit. Each delineation has at least one of the
major components, and some may have all of them. The same principles
regarding the proportion of minor components that apply to
consociations also apply to undifferentiated groups. The same
principles regarding proportion of inclusion apply to
undifferentiated groups as to consociations.
Minimum documentation consists of three complete soil profile
descriptions that are collected for each soil added to the legend,
one additional per 3,000 acres mapped; three 10 observation
transects for each map unit, one additional 10 point transect per
3,000 acres.
A defined standard or level of confidence in the interpretive
purity of the map unit delineations is attained by adjusting the
kind and intensity of field investigations. Field investigations
and data collection are carried out in sufficient detail to name
map units and to identify accurately and consistently areas of
about 3 acres.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

The accuracy of these digital data is based upon their
compilation to base maps that meet National Map
Accuracy Standards at a scale of 1 inch equals 1,000
feet. The difference in positional accuracy between the
soil boundaries and special soil features locations in the
field and their digitized map locations is unknown. The
locational accuracy of soil delineations on the ground varies
with the transition between map units.
For example, on long gently sloping landscapes the transition
occurs gradually over many feet. Where landscapes change
abruptly from steep to level, the transition will be very
narrow. Soil delineation boundaries and special soil features
generally were digitized within 0.01 inch of their locations on
the digitizing source. The digital map elements are edge matched
between data sets. The data along each quadrangle edge are
matched against the data for the adjacent quadrangle. Edge
locations generally do not deviate from centerline to centerline
by more than 0.01 inch.

Other_Citation_Details:
These SSURGO certified soil surveys are adjacent to
the Soil Survey of (NY664) Niagara County Area, New York:
NY029 Erie County, New York
NY037 Genesee County, New York
NY073 Orleans County, New York

Process_Description:
Niagara County had a previously published soil survey
in 1972, at 1:15840 scale. An evaluation was made of the soil survey in
2000. It was determined that the soil map unit delineations and map unit
components were accurate.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SCS1

Process_Date: 2000

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
Ratioed film positives, at 1:12000 scale, were made
from the publication annotation overlays. Soil map unit delineations,
soil symbols and special soil features were manually compiled from the
film positives to stable-base material registered to 3.75 minute
orthophotographic quadrangles. Errors from the published soil survey
were corrected and map unit boundaries were refined, as needed, to the
orthophotographic quadrangles.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SCS1, NRCS1, NRCS2, NRCS3

Process_Date: 2002

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The preliminary National Soil Information System data
base was developed by Natural Resources Conservation Service soil
scientists according to national standards.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SCS1

Process_Date: 2003

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The data were sent to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin
Digitizing Unit, Madison, Wisconsin (WIDU). The annotated soil
delineation overlays were sent to Midwest Graphics, Kenosha, Wisconsin
for raster scanning at 250 dpi on an Intergraph Anatach scanner in rlc
format. The raster scanned data were imported into LT4X Version 4.1.1
maps. Once all the scanned soil lines were added to the maps, a county
border was added. The border was manually digitized from DRGs and
DOQs by the WIDU. The special soil features were manually digitized
from the annotated soil delineation overlays in LT4X at a resolution of
0.01 inch. The raster editing, labeling, edge matching, and vector
conversion were done in LT4X. Check plots of the soils and special soil
features were reviewed by a soil scientist and the cartographic staff at
the WIDU. A ten percent quality assurance review was done of the soils
and special features by the Major Land Resource Area office in
Amherst, MA. The soils and special soil features data were run
through a series of LT4X macros for correctness and completeness. These
macros smoothed and thinned out linework, added nodes for every 3000
vertices, added corner nodes and snapped nodes across the neatlines. The
soils and special soil features data were then exported as Digital Line
Graph-3 Optional format files (DLGs) in LT4X. The DLGs were imported
into ARC/INFO and merged into a full county coverage. The data were
then evaluated with the SSURGO Evaluation AMLs provided by U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
National Cartography and Geospatial Center, Fort Worth, Texas (NCGC).
A preliminary check of the spatial and tabular data was performed to
verify mapunit legends were exact. Upon successful completion of the
SSURGO Evaluation, the certified spatial data were processed with the
distribution AMLs provided by NCGC and submitted to the Soil Data
Warehouse for archival and distribution.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NRCS4, NRCS5, NRCS6, NRCS7

Process_Date: 2004

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The SSURGO database of Niagara County, New York
was downloaded from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC).
The online SSURGO data were imported into ARC/INFO Version 8.3 at the
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Digitizing Unit. For
join purposes, edits along the Tuscarora Indian Nation border were done.
The SSURGO data were then processed with May 2004 Re-archiving AMLs
provided by the National Cartography and Geospatial Center, Fort Worth,
Texas (NCGC). The SSURGO data were uploaded to the Soil Data Warehouse
for archival and distribution.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NRCS8

Process_Date: 2005

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate verified that the labels on the digitized soil map units
link to map units in the tabular database, and certified the joined
data sets for release to the Soil Data Warehouse. A system assigned
version number and date stamp were added and the data were copied to
the data warehouse. The tabular data for the map units and components
were extracted from the data warehouse and reformatted into the soil
data delivery data model, then stored in the Soil Data Mart. The spatial
data were copied to the Soil Data Mart without change.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20050329

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate, upon completion of data quality verification, determined
that the tabular data should be released for official use. A
selected set of map units and components in the soil survey legend was
copied to a staging database, and rating values for selected
interpretations were generated. The list of selected interpretations is
stored in the database table named sainterp.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20051212

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate verified that the labels on the digitized soil map units
link to map units in the tabular database, and certified the joined
data sets for release to the Soil Data Warehouse. A system assigned
version number and date stamp were added and the data were copied to
the data warehouse. The tabular data for the map units and components
were extracted from the data warehouse and reformatted into the soil
data delivery data model, then stored in the Soil Data Mart. The spatial
data were copied to the Soil Data Mart without change.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20051214

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate, upon completion of data quality verification, determined
that the tabular data should be released for official use. A
selected set of map units and components in the soil survey legend was
copied to a staging database, and rating values for selected
interpretations were generated. The list of selected interpretations is
stored in the database table named sainterp.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20060710

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate verified that the labels on the digitized soil map units
link to map units in the tabular database, and certified the joined
data sets for release to the Soil Data Warehouse. A system assigned
version number and date stamp were added and the data were copied to
the data warehouse. The tabular data for the map units and components
were extracted from the data warehouse and reformatted into the soil
data delivery data model, then stored in the Soil Data Mart. The spatial
data were copied to the Soil Data Mart without change.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20060714

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate, upon completion of data quality verification, determined
that the tabular data should be released for official use. A
selected set of map units and components in the soil survey legend was
copied to a staging database, and rating values for selected
interpretations were generated. The list of selected interpretations is
stored in the database table named sainterp.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20061211

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
Soil scientists entered/edited data in NASIS for geomorphic description
and selected chemical and physical properties. The Natural Resources
Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or delegate verified that the
labels on the digitized soil map units link to map units in the tabular
database, and certified the joined data sets for release to the Soil
Data Warehouse. A system assigned version number and date stamp were
added and the data were copied to the data warehouse. The tabular data
for the map units and components were extracted from the data warehouse
and reformatted into the soil data delivery data model, then stored in
the Soil Data Mart. The spatial data were copied to the Soil Data Mart
without change.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20061213

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The soils staff in New York downloaded the SSURGO data for the Niagara
County Area from the Soil Data Warehouse (SDW). Water polygons and
adjacent soil polygons in the existing SSURGO spatial data were
reviewed against the 1972 hardcopy soil survey atlas sheets and the
2008 NAIP imagery. The digital mapping was revised where water
polygons were determined to be ponded soil, so that the spatial data
corresponds more closely with the original hard copy atlas sheets. Some
edits to other polygons were made based on the imagery and atlas sheets.
The revised geodatabase was sent to the Michigan Digitizing Unit
(MIDU) in East Lansing, Michigan for review and certification.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SCS1, FSA1, NRCS9, NRCS10

Process_Date: 2009

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The MIDU staff checked the spatial data with the ARCGIS Version 9.2
software. The boundaries of this soil survey were adjusted to match
the adjacent soil surveys. To remove excess vertices, the soil
boundaries were generalized at a 0.5 meter tolerance. After the soil
survey was edited, the area, line and point feature classes were
converted to ARC/INFO coverages and exported as e00 files.
The digital maps of the mapping units and the special soil features
were imported into the ARC/INFO Version 7.2.1 software for review and
certification. The MIDU staff checked the data with a set of ARC Macro
Language (AML) programs developed by the NCGC. The seamless coverages
were checked using the January 2006 SSURGO Evaluation AML programs.
Upon successful completion of the SSURGO Evaluation, the county
coverages, feature file and the metadata were electronically
transferred to the NRCS Staging Server to be joined with
the tabular data.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NRCS10, NRCS11

Process_Date: 20100211

Process_Step:

Process_Description:
The Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist or
delegate verified that the labels on the digitized soil map units
link to map units in the tabular database, and certified the joined
data sets for release to the Soil Data Warehouse. A system assigned
version number and date stamp were added and the data were copied to
the data warehouse. The tabular data for the map units and components
were extracted from the data warehouse and reformatted into the soil
data delivery data model, then stored in the Soil Data Mart. The spatial
data were copied to the Soil Data Mart without change.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20100217

Process_Step:

Process_Description: The tabular data were extracted from the data mart without change. The spatial data's coordinate system was transformed to UTM Zone 17, Northern Hemisphere (NAD 83) using ESRI ArcObjects 8.3 "ConvertFeatureClass" and exported to an ESRI shapefile.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NASIS

Process_Date: 20100218

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 17

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -81.000000

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000

False_Easting: 500000.000000

False_Northing: 0.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000000

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000000

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Special Soil Features

Entity_Type_Definition:
Special Soil Features represent soil, miscellaneous area, or landform
features that are too small to be digitized as soil delineations
(area features).

Attribute_Definition:
Special Soil Features labels represent specific Special Soil
Features. These features are identified with a descriptive
label. The label is assigned to the point or line assigned
to represent the feature on maps.

Codeset_Name:
Classification and Correlation of the Soils of Niagara County
Area, New York

Codeset_Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Map Unit Delineations are closed polygons that may be dominated
by a single soil or miscellaneous area component plus allowable
similar or dissimilar soils, or they can be geographic mixtures
of groups of soils or soils and miscellaneous areas.
The map unit symbol uniquely identifies each closed map unit
delineation. Each symbol corresponds to a map unit name. The
map unit key is used to link to information in the National
Soil Information System tables.
Map Unit Delineations are described by the National Soil
Information System database. This attribute database gives the
proportionate extent of the component soils and the properties for
each soil. The database contains both estimated and measured data
on the physical and chemical soil properties and soil
interpretations for engineering, water management, recreation,
agronomic, woodland, range, and wildlife uses of the soil.
The National Soil Information System database contains static
metadata. It documents the data structure and includes such
information as what tables, columns, indexes, and relationships
are defined as well as a variety of attributes of each of these
database objects. Attributes include table and column
descriptions and detailed domain information.
The National Soil Information System database also contains a
distribution metadata. It records the criteria used for selecting
map units and components for inclusion in the set of distributed
data.
Special features are described in the feature table. It includes an
area symbol, feature label, feature name, and feature description for
each special and ad hoc feature in the survey area.

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer
system at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no warranty expressed
or implied is made by the Agency regarding the utility of the data
on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute
any such warranty. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will warrant
the delivery of this product in computer readable format, and will
offer appropriate adjustment of credit when the product is determined
unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input peripherals, or
when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. Request
for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 days from the date
of this shipment from the ordering site.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor any of its agencies are
liable for misuse of the data, for damage, for transmission of
viruses, or for computer contamination through the distribution of
these data sets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Access_Instructions: Select desired survey area at above Internet Web site. An email
address is required for receipt of instructions on retrieval via
anonymous FTP. Anticipate a delay between submission of request
at Web site and receipt of email message.

Access_Instructions: Select desired survey area at above Internet Web site. An email
address is required for receipt of instructions on retrieval via
anonymous FTP. Anticipate a delay between submission of request
at Web site and receipt of email message.

Access_Instructions: Select desired survey area at above Internet Web site. An email
address is required for receipt of instructions on retrieval via
anonymous FTP. Anticipate a delay between submission of request
at Web site and receipt of email message.

Access_Instructions: Select desired survey area at above Internet Web site. An email
address is required for receipt of instructions on retrieval via
anonymous FTP. Anticipate a delay between submission of request
at Web site and receipt of email message.

Fees: There is currently no direct charge for requesting data or for
retrieval via FTP.

Ordering_Instructions: Visit the above mentioned Internet Web Site, select state or
territory, then select individual soil survey area of interest.
Spatial line data and locations of special feature symbols are in
ESRI ArcGIS (ArcView,ArcInfo) shapefile, coverage and interchange
(i.e., export) formats. The National Soil Information System
attribute soil data are available in variable length, pipe
delimited, ASCII file format.

Turnaround: Typically within four hours

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20100218

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service